Home Ministry to beef up police presence in neighbourhoods - Cops on bikes

By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia, 1 Mar 2012

The Ministry of Home Affairs is transforming the way it fights crime in the neighbourhoods.

Over the next few years, it is spending about S$160 million to enhance police presence on the ground, so that officers can better prevent, deter and detect crime.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean noted that the overall crime rate has been falling for the last six years.

In 2011, numbers dropped seven per cent from 2010, to 606 crimes for every 100,000 residents - a 20-year low.

But new demographic challenges have emerged, bringing changes in societal attitudes - and these require a new response.

Hence, Mr Teo said, the need to rethink domestic safety and security concerns.

"One way of dealing with crime is to build fences and walls around our precincts and blocks, cordon off HDB void decks, and create gated neighbourhoods," he said. "But doing so does not only keep undesirable people out, but will also lock ourselves in, and separate and segregate communities. This will fundamentally change the way we organise our communities, and change our social fabric," he said.

Instead, changes will be introduced to the community policing model starting from May in Bukit Merah East and Tampines.

The reorganisation is expected to be completed in end-2015.

Community Policing Units will be expanded at each Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC), where police go on more foot and bicycle patrols on specific beats.

The idea is to get them more familiar with their precinct, and to build closer relationships with residents and businesses.

A crime strike force - similar to those currently situated in divisional headquarters - will also be created in each NPC, thus bringing crime-fighting capabilities closer to the ground.

More CCTV cameras will also be mounted in HDB blocks, multi-storey carparks and key public areas to help police with their investigations.

The reorganisation of the NPCs will require more manpower, and each centre will be given an additional 13 officers.

On the whole, about 450 additional police officers will be recruited over the next few years.

Changing societal attitudes and the way they are being expressed online have also created new challenges for authorities.

"Some segments of our population also feel that they should be allowed to express their views in an unfettered way," Mr Teo said. "On the other hand, when remarks or acts denigrate another culture, nationality or religion, members of the public and those groups who are the target want action to be taken against the perpetrators. With the Internet and social media, a single thoughtless comment can have immense reach and severe consequences."

Laws currently do not cover cyber harassment, and the Ministries of Home Affairs, Law and Information, Communication and the Arts are working to review this.

Besides studying existing laws in countries like Australia, India and the UK, Mr Teo said authorities here are also considering civil remedies for those affected by wrongdoings which are not criminal in nature.

For instance, an aggrieved party should be able to protect himself from falsehoods spread on the internet when suing for defamation.

Given the ease at which online posts can go viral, the victim should also be able to obtain a timely injunction to order the removal of any offensive statements.

At a broader level, more powers are being sought to deal with organised crime, given the increasingly transnational nature of crime.

The ministry will be tabling an Organised Crime Act to allow authorities to better deal with syndicates, and is also reviewing the Casino Control Act. 

Cops and community riding a bicycle for two
Editorial, The Straits Times, 3 Mar 2012

ADVOCATES of community policing say it is the future. But since such programmes were implemented here and elsewhere from the 1980s, is it a case of the police stepping back to the future? Singapore's revamped Community Policing System indicates that the focus on the community is as relevant here now as it was in 1983 when the Neighbourhood Police Post system was introduced and later when Neighbourhood Police Centres were formed.

The underlying belief has been time-tested in many jurisdictions, namely that the police should not be just reactive, but actively project their presence in the community both as a deterrent and also to be consultative, taking into account the needs of the public and working with the community to solve local problems.

Doubtless, a more visible police presence will be welcomed by many, as cops return to the bike patrols of yore with a difference - they will now look more approachable in shorts and tees, a la the officers in the once-popular TV series, Pacific Blue. Putting 450 extra officers on the beat is not an insubstantial allocation of resources. This raises the question: How effective will the measures be? The answer, of course, must be determined by how the objectives are framed. If sheer police presence is the goal, then embedding more officers on the ground can do the trick. But when more is expected of such efforts, then it pays to look at how value is being added to the services offered.

The skill with which front-line officers deal with the public and an intimate knowledge of the neighbourhood can make all the difference in promoting more interaction with residents, business owners and foreign nationals here. Ideally, officers will be allowed to stay long enough in an area to build a network of relationships. The experience elsewhere suggests that community policing works best when officers are given responsibility for a particular area and a degree of autonomy, so their job scope is not seen as narrow and their tasks are not perceived as low-value.

On their part, the public should have sensible expectations of community policing efforts. Earlier initiatives were credited with lowering the crime rate. But more foot and bike patrols and mounted video cameras will not eliminate crime or necessarily lead to quick arrests every time. Cops on bikes will really be on a bicycle built for two, with the community having to do as much of the pedalling. Continued vigilance by the public will make all the difference. Greater ownership of safety concerns and wider security issues by all in the community remains as critical as ever.

Good news for foreign spouses - Introduction of Long Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+) from 1 April 2012

New pass lets them stay for longer periods and find work more easily

By Teo Wan Gek & Andrea Ong, The Straits Times, 2 Mar 2012

FOREIGN spouses of Singaporeans can stay here for longer periods, find work more easily and even enjoy hospital subsidies, under a new scheme starting on April 1.

Called the Long Term Visit Pass-Plus (LTVP+), it will benefit foreign spouses who have not been granted permanent residency or citizenship.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean announced the new scheme yesterday during the debate on the Prime Minister's Office budget. It was a nod to four MPs who had asked if more could be done to help foreign spouses of Singaporeans, especially those with Singaporean children.

There are about 9,400 foreign spouses here each year on the existing long-term visit pass. They have to renew the pass every year, and cannot work unless they have an employment pass, S-Pass or a work permit.

MPs interviewed described the scheme as a more compassionate one that will help families stay intact. They said that it will likely benefit the foreign wives of blue-collar Singaporeans, who appear regularly at their Meet-the-People Sessions to appeal to get permanent resident (PR) status or renew their visiting pass.

With the new LTVP+, foreign spouses can stay here for three years in the first instance, and up to five years for each renewal. This is instead of the current one-year validity period.

Such pass holders will also enjoy health-care subsidies for in-patient services at restructured hospitals, at a level close to that for PRs.

They can also work to supplement the family income, said Mr Teo. They can ask their prospective employer to apply online to the Ministry of Manpower for a letter of consent. Those issued with the letter will not be counted in their employers' foreign worker quota. Their bosses will also not be required to pay the foreign workers' levy for them.

But not all foreign spouses will be given the LTVP+. Couples who have at least one Singaporean child from their marriage will be eligible to apply.

For those without, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority will look at factors such as the duration of marriage, and will generally consider those married for at least three years more favourably.

Yesterday, Mr Teo said more Singaporeans are marrying non-citizens. In 2010, almost a third of marriages involving a Singaporean were between a citizen and a foreigner, excluding PRs.

But while the Government sympathises with these families, there have also been instances where the foreign spouse suddenly divorces the Singaporean upon receipt of PR status, said Mr Teo.

That is why PR and citizenship status is given out only after the marriages are stable and have been in existence for a substantial period of time, he added.

Sustainable population 'most critical' issue - Govt taking comprehensive look at population policies

By Andrea Ong, The Straits Times, 2 Mar 2012

THE Government is studying ways to develop a strategy that will produce a sustainable population which will ensure the country thrives as well as meets its people's aspirations in the future.

Coming up with the strategy is the 'most critical' issue Singapore faces in the long run, and it is important for the Government and people to come to a shared understanding of how to tackle the challenge, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday.

The outcome of the study will be made known by the end of the year when it is presented in a White Paper in Parliament.

In announcing it, DPM Teo said the study will be spearheaded by the National Population and Talent Division, which falls under his charge in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). He was speaking during the debate on the PMO's budget.

The division is 'comprehensively examining' the nation's population goals and policies, he said. It will also discuss related issues via dialogues and online channels with other agencies, stakeholders and the public.

These issues, which include topics like the size and make-up of the population, will have an impact on how the Government plans its land use and infrastructure, said DPM Teo.

The results of its work will be incorporated into the White Paper. He said: 'Through this process, we hope to bring to light issues that are important to Singapore and Singaporeans, and develop a shared understanding of our strategies to build a sustainable population that secures Singapore's future.'

Four MPs, including Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Nee Soon GRC) and Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC), had asked for the Government's population parameters for planning purposes.

DPM Teo assured the House that Singaporeans' views, aspirations and concerns would be considered in developing a population strategy.

The strategy would maintain Singapore's vitality, strengthen its harmonious multi-ethnic society, and 'enable Singaporeans to achieve their life aspirations'.

He also had good news for those worried about the twin woes of low total fertility rate (TFR) and the foreigner influx.

Slightly more babies were born to Singapore citizens last year compared to in 2010. With 30,922 babies against 30,131 babies in 2010, the TFR rose to 1.2 from a historic low of 1.15 in 2010.

The low number of new citizens last year was partly because the citizenship application process was changed.

Would-be citizens have to go through a compulsory orientation programme before the process is complete. Hence, 4,000 who got in-principle approval for citizenship late last year will get their pink identity card this year.

The pool of new permanent residents last year was also the smallest in five years: 27,521 were made permanent residents, around 6 per cent less than in 2010.

However, DPM Teo cautioned that Singapore is at a 'demographic turning point' this year, when the first cohort of post-war baby boomers starts turning 65. This marks the start of an 'unprecedented age shift', with more than 900,000 set to retire from now to 2030.

He painted a dire picture of Singapore's future if birth rates stay at today's low levels and there is no immigration. The workforce will shrink and there will be less support for a growing elderly pool.

But DPM Teo remained optimistic: 'While we face serious demographic challenges and difficult trade-offs in managing population growth, Singapore has a good foundation on which we can build our future.'

2011 POPULATION HIGHLIGHTS

30,922 - Number of babies born to Singaporeans, nearly 3 per cent more than in 2010.

15,777 - Number of new citizens, lowest in five years.

27,521 - Number of new permanent residents, lowest in five years.

If the birth rate remains constant and immigration stops, the median age of citizens will rise from 39 in 2010, to 47 in 2030, and 53 in 2050.

By 2030, fewer young citizens will enter the workforce - about half the number of elderly people leaving the workforce.

1,200 Singaporeans renounce citizenship every year

300 new citizens give up their status each year

Reasons vary and there is no pattern, says DPM Teo; some MPs concerned about figure

By Amanda Tan & Tay Suan Chiang, The Straits Times 2 Mar 2012

EACH year, around 300 naturalised citizens relinquish their status, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean told Parliament on Tuesday.

They are among 1,200 Singaporeans who give up their citizenship each year.

Mr Teo, who is also Home Affairs Minister, said there is no pattern in the reasons given, which vary. Some say they prefer to live overseas, while others are marrying a foreigner or reuniting with their families in other countries.

He was responding to a question from Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Nee Soon GRC), who asked about the number of new citizens who relinquished their status, and their reasons for doing so.

Speaking to The Straits Times the next day, Dr Lim said he felt that 300 was on the 'high side'.

'Singaporeans are concerned that foreigners are using Singapore as a stepping stone, and when they find greener pastures they will leave us,' he said.

'I wanted to find out the characteristic of this group... Did they come here only for property investment, for instance? I still want to know how long their duration of stay here was.'

Nominated MP Eugene Tan agreed, saying the number is 'fairly significant' and of concern.

Dr Tan, who is also an assistant law professor at Singapore Management University, said a figure like that 'reinforces' public perception that foreigners use Singapore as a stepping stone, or treat the country like a 'hotel'.

'In deciding who to grant citizenship to, are we too lax? Also, are we doing enough to integrate them?' he asked, adding that 'we cannot assume they will seamlessly become citizens just by giving them an identity card'.

But Mr Alvin Yeo (Chua Chu Kang GRC) had a different view, saying the figure is not large, compared with the roughly 20,000 foreigners who are granted citizenship here each year.

'Maybe for those people, plans changed... You'll never get that figure to be zero,' he said.

Mr Yeo, who sits on the Government Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Law, said: 'Of course we must work to be attractive, but even when people leave, it doesn't mean you're not.'

Associate Professor Tan Ern Ser from the National University of Singapore said possible reasons for new citizens leaving include 'realising that Singapore is not where they want to spend the rest of their lives, and not feeling a sense of belonging to Singapore'.

He added: 'Finding better opportunities elsewhere is also a possibility.'

Asked if the figure should be of concern, Prof Tan said it 'suggests that these foreigners either do not take their new Singapore citizenship seriously, or they did not consider their decisions carefully before applying for citizenship'.

However, he also felt that 'it is better for Singapore that people who do not wish or cannot continue to be citizens not hold on to a membership they cannot commit themselves to'.

Meanwhile, immigration expert Leong Chan Hoong pointed out that the numbers do not include those who have permanently relocated but did not give up their Singapore citizenship.

Still, he said that regardless of whether the Singaporeans who move away are local-born or naturalised citizens, 'the number of emigrants on the whole is relatively small compared with that of other countries'.

Dr Leong said tighter immigration policies which may make it harder for people to renounce citizenship may not work.

'Making it more difficult for naturalised citizens to renounce their citizenship will not make them more rooted.

'What we need is a social compact that is agreeable to both the local and foreign-born citizens. We need to ensure that those who take up citizenship understand their rights as citizens, their obligations to Singapore, and the norms, values and ethos practised in our society,' he said.

Lower flat prices by shortening leases?

Idea for flats with shorter leases may not fly

Experts cite current financing plans as one main stumbling block

By Jermyn Chow, The Straits Times, 2 Mar 2012

A MEMBER of Parliament has proposed that the Government sell new flats with shorter leases, as that would mean cheaper flats which would be a boon for young couples.

But property experts The Straits Times spoke to said the proposal is unlikely to fly for now because it would mean overhauling the current housing policy as well as existing financing plans available to homebuyers.

The proposal was mooted by Mr Gan Thiam Poh, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, in Parliament on Tuesday.

He urged the Government to consider building more affordable two- and three-room units with shorter leases, such as 30 or 60 years.

Rising property prices have caused many couples and upgrading families to worry about buying a home. With shorter leases, couples can better control their costs, he said.

Elaborating on this yesterday, he said: 'It is about giving them the option and leeway to spread the financial burden and defer the paying of higher prices until they earn more money.'

New HDB flats have 99-year leases. Older flats in the resale market, however, have between about 60 and 80 years left on their leases.

Mr Nicholas Mak, head of research and consultancy at SLP International, estimated that the price of a four-room Build-to-Order flat in Punggol with a 99-year lease will fall from $300,000 to $230,000 if its lease is shortened to 60 years - or down by about 20 per cent.

On a 30-year lease, the same flat will cost $140,000, about half the original price.

He said that while the proposal may look good on paper, implementing it will be an administrative nightmare.

'Shorter HDB leases will run up against the brickwall of current financing options offered by CPF and banks,' he added.

He noted too that 'most of us want to sell our property at a profit... with shorter leases, it will not be profitable, and may even be a loss'.

Ms Deon Tan, director of brokerage firm Providence Capital Advisors, said that banks may not be as willing to offer long-term loans for flats with shorter leases. Even if they do, some might place more restrictions like offering lower loan quantums and requiring borrowers to pay back the loan in a shorter time.

Mr Lee Sze Teck, senior manager of DWG Research and Consultancy, said Singaporeans may not yet be ready to accept homes with short leases, like those in Hong Kong and China.

While such flats may be cheaper, in the long run, it may make it harder for those who outlive the leases to buy new flats. 'The aim is ultimately to help everyone to own a roof over their head. Shorter leases cannot solve long-term housing needs,' he said.

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan had said in a reply to Parliament in January that cutting short the lease of new flats to bring prices down may not be suitable for the needs of young couples.

Young married couples, who form the vast majority of new HDB flat buyers, need their first flats to help them upgrade to larger homes or private properties when their families grow, he said.

If their flats have shorter leases, these couples may have limited prospects of using their flats to buy studio apartments when they retire, he added.

Young couples interviewed were generally lukewarm about the proposal too.

Marketing assistant Cynthia Chia, 23, who has two children, noted that longer flat leases fetch a higher premium.

She and her husband recently bought a Build-to-Order four-room flat in Sengkang for $320,000. She hopes to make at least a 10 per cent profit if they sell it.

'I may pay less for a flat with shorter lease, but I don't want to be stuck with the property which will not be worth much 10 or 20 years down the road,' she said.

Lower flat prices by shortening leases: MPs

By Daryl Chin, The Straits Times, 29 Feb 2012

HDB flats should be sold on shorter leases to make them more affordable for young people and those on lower incomes, MPs said at yesterday's Budget debate.

Rising property prices have struck panic in the hearts of many couples and upgrading families, said Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC).

He added that he has noticed a 'worrying' trend in which younger people tried to buy the largest flat they could afford.

Mr Gan urged the Government to consider building more affordable two- and three-room units with shorter leases, such as 30 or 60 years. Most HDB flats are sold on a 99-year lease.

'Such options will enable them to better manage and control costs for themselves,' he said.

Mr Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) also called for changes to help low-income people find housing. For example, flats could be sold on shorter leases for those with limited financial resources.

'If we make enough effort, I am confident we can think of a scheme to reduce the start-up burden on low-income families and young families, and they can be assured of a roof over their heads at a reasonable price,' he said.

MPs also called for a more flexible approach to schemes which allow the elderly to unlock the value of their homes.

Taking the podium, Mrs Lina Chiam, a Non-Constituency MP, said the recently announced Silver Housing Bonus, in which eligible elderly people are given $20,000 to downgrade to a smaller flat, was 'both impractical and unsuitable from a financial perspective'.

She said this is because a large portion of the sales proceeds would go into Central Provident Fund accounts, which might mean those in urgent need would not have access to funds outright.

Mr Hri Kumar Nair (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) called for greater flexibility in the Lease Buyback Scheme.

This involves the HDB buying the tail-end of an elderly person's lease. In return, the owner is supposed to receive $15,000 upfront and monthly payments for life.

Mr Nair said the scheme was not popular as it applied only to those living in three-room flats or smaller, and the monthly payouts were too paltry. Only 446 people have signed up for it since its launch in 2009.

Another problem, said the MP, was that payments are based on the present day value of the flat as determined by the HDB. This means the owner does not benefit if property prices rise. 'He in fact suffers inflation,' added Mr Nair.

He urged the Government to come up with ways to be more flexible. For example, elderly homeowners could be allowed higher cash payouts to deal with immediate needs, such as the cost of an operation or daily expenses.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC) called for older owners of larger HDB flats to be included in the scheme.

Budget 2012: $1.1 billion Bus Services Enhancement Fund

$1.1 billion bus package is a subsidy for commuters
Without it, public bus operators will hike up fares by 15 cents per journey
By Goh Chin Lian, The Straits Times, 2 Mar 2012

IF THE Government does not step in to help public transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT improve bus services, commuters will have to pay 15 cents more in fares per journey to get the better service they want.

But in providing $1.1 billion to ramp up the bus fleet and cover operating costs over 10 years, the Government will also scrutinise the two operators' accounts, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday.

'The $1.1 billion will be reduced as their losses are reduced,' he added.

'And if they make a profit, it all comes back to us. So none of the $1.1 billion will go towards profits for the public transport operators.'

Mr Tharman gave this assurance after 11 MPs in the past three days questioned the controversial decision by the Government to finance the purchase of 550 buses and cover their operating costs for 10 years.

One of their biggest worries was that public funds could be going into the coffers of profitable publicly listed companies and their shareholders, but the minister said the decision was made with commuters in mind.

He said: 'The $1.1 billion government package, or $110 million per year, is a subsidy for public transport commuters and not a subsidy for the public transport operators. It will improve service levels for commuters, not the profits of the public transport operators.'

The Government's intervention - $280 million for 550 buses and $820 million for operating costs - was not a normal budgetary decision, he added.

While the public transport operators (PTO) will also buy 250 buses on their own to keep pace with ridership growth and meet service levels regulated by the Public Transport Council, the service levels commuters want go 'significantly beyond' those required of the operators.

Another 550 buses would achieve these desired targets, which are to relieve crowding on heavily used routes and introduce new services to improve connectivity.

They would also ensure almost all feeder buses run every 10 minutes or less, and for two hours each during morning and evening peak periods, instead of one hour currently.

Financial viability was another reason Mr Tharman gave for the Government stepping in. It expects the bus revenue not to cover higher costs, including paying better salaries to hire more than 1,000 drivers.

Worrying about Primary 1 - MOE relooking Primary 1 registration

Editorial, The Straits Times, 28 Feb 2012

FEW things bring young parents as much stress as the perceived 'lottery' aspect of the Primary 1 school registration. This has been so despite the process being widely praised as having met two important tests: transparency and the unambiguous application phases of descending priority, from citizen siblings at the top to foreign applicants at the bottom. The unhappiness is about weightage given to certain categories of applicants, like those whose parents had connections of a varied nature with the school, or who were of certain religious or clan affiliations. Ideally, only children whose parents had attended a school of choice or who are currently on its staff should get preference. That is as far as affiliations should go. There are also parents who think residential proximity should be the sole criterion, and that everybody else should be subject to balloting. But the Education Ministry has a proximity classification of up to 2km; what is not well understood is why some who qualified failed to gain admission even after a ballot. Clarity shed here would be helpful.

If the ministry is undertaking another criteria review, it should be mindful that no changes, however well considered, will satisfy all parents fully. It is in the nature of a driven society to be perpetually fretful about finding the golden mean. The day may never come when Singaporean parents believe wholeheartedly that the primary school years that children go through are not as life-determining as secondary school and the tertiary choices it shapes. The fact that places will always be available, if a little distant from home, and that school standards and discipline levels are fairly even (save for a small band of notable schools), does not always hold sway.

How might the ministry reassure habitual worriers? One thing it ought not do is to go for a full-blown school zone system where applicants living within defined geographic precincts of a school are guaranteed places. Countries that tried the approach were overwhelmed by anomalies like 'creative' applications through short-term rental addresses and soaring property prices which disadvantaged families of limited means.

Any allocation system seen as inadvertently favouring those who are better off will bring a backlash in Singapore, where property ownership is in itself a delicate issue. But the strongest argument against any type of zoning scheme is that choice schools bursting at the seams will inevitably turn away eligible applicants. That will create angst and could even invite unnecessary legal challenges. Any review must uphold the principle of allocating places on the basis of fair and transparent criteria - not because of privilege or connections as that can otherwise undermine efforts to build a more inclusive society here.

Ministry relooking Primary 1 registration

Some parents say too much priority given to kids with links to school

By Sandra Davie, The Straits Times, 23 Feb 2012

THE Ministry of Education is understood to be studying how to improve the Primary 1 registration scheme, which has been criticised for giving too much priority to children with connections to the school.

It revealed the move in a letter to a school administration manager, who wrote to it late last year suggesting changes to the scheme.

In the ministry's letter, made public in an online teachers' forum, an official said the ministry was 'studying various options to improve the P1 registration framework'.

She also said any changes may take some time to be studied and implemented, as suggestions from various groups would have to be considered carefully.

She added that the scheme aims to allocate school places according to a set of fair and transparent criteria that are in the child's educational interests.

Asked about this yesterday, the ministry said it reviews the P1 registration framework regularly, taking into consideration public feedback.

A spokesman added that the system was last changed in 2010 to give Singaporean citizens priority over permanent residents. The Primary 1 registration scheme underwent a major revamp in 1999 to give greater priority to parents who are active in schools.

Former students who joined their schools' alumni associations were given priority over other old boys and girls when it came to getting their children into the school. Parent volunteers had to serve a minimum of 40 hours to qualify.

There are six phasesin the registration process, with siblings of children already in a school getting top priority. Next come the children of alumni, parent volunteers or those with church or clan connections.

They are followed by all Singaporeans and permanent residents, with non-citizens last in the pecking order. If any phase is oversubscribed, priority is given to those who live nearby.

Parents have complained that the later stages often end up with more applicants than available places.

Last year, close to half of Singapore's 173 primary schools had to hold ballots and there were children who could not get into schools near their homes.

Others have complained that the scheme is unfairly weighted in favour of alumni - some of whom may not play an active role in the school - and those with church or clan connections.

Some parents want more places allocated to Phase 2C, for those without any ties to the school. Others want the ministry to stop giving priority to any group, and open all places to a ballot.

But the loudest calls have been to give priority to children living closest to the school of their choice.

Two years ago, two MPs raised this suggestion in Parliament, saying that they knew of children who could not get into schools very near their homes.

At the time, the ministry said it would not change the rule as those who live within 1km of the school are already given priority. It said guaranteeing places to those who live very close by would place unnecessary constraints on the system.

Mountbatten MP Lim Biow Chuan, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education, yesterday agreed that the phase prioritising alumni does not distinguish between parents who contribute to the school and those who are 'sleeping members' who merely joined the alumni association.

'That's something that the ministry should look at to make it a fairer system,' he said.

Six out of eight parents interviewed yesterday supported any move to review the scheme.

Business executive Zachary Teo, 40, said he moved to Serangoon North to be close to popular Rosyth School, but he was not sure that his two children would get in.

'It will be ridiculous if I can't get a place at Rosyth and have to send my son by school bus to a school in Ang Mo Kio or Hougang,' he said.

How it currently works

Phase 1: For a child who has a sibling currently in the school. All children registered under this phase will be given places in the schools of their choice.

Phase 2A(1): For a child whose parent is a former pupil of the school and has joined the alumni association, or is a member of the school's advisory committee.

Phase 2A(2): For a child whose parent is a staff member of the school, or whose parent or sibling has studied there. At the end of Phase 2A(2), half of the remaining places in schools will be allocated for Phase 2B and the other half for Phase 2C.

Phase 2B: For a child whose parent is a volunteer and has put in at least 40 hours of voluntary service to the school or who is a member of the church or clan association connected with it. This phase also applies to a child whose parent is an active community leader.

Phase 2C: For a child who is ineligible for or unsuccessful in earlier phases.

Phase 3: For a child who is not a Singapore citizen or a permanent resident.

If there are excess applications during each phase, admissions are then made based on how close the child lives to the school. Children living within a 1km radius of the school are given priority, followed by those within 2km.

If there is balloting in any of the phases, Singaporeans will get two ballot slips while permanent residents get one.

Don't be anxious about securing P1 spots, education minister tells parents

By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia, 24 Feb 2012 

Education Minister Heng Swee Keat has called on parents not to be "anxious" about getting their children into primary schools.

He was responding to queries on the ministry's review of the Primary One registration framework. 

The current framework is a tiered system comprising six phases.

Priority is given to children who have siblings in the same school, followed by those whose parents are alumni, volunteers, or who have church or clan affiliations.

The same rules apply to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. Foreigners apply during the final stage.

The ministry recently indicated that it is "studying various options to improve" the scheme.

Mr Heng declined to go into details, saying more will be announced at a later time.

But he stressed that parents must realise there are more than just one or two good schools in the system. 

He said: "What we need to do is make sure that we have many more good schools and that we send this message out loud and clear to all parents. 

"The key thing is to understand what the schools are doing, then the parents will be in a better position to choose the school, and importantly, to support their children in their educational journey.

"It's important to realise that it's not that one place, but there are many good places that we can go to, and any change that we make must take that into account."

Lasalle to offer degrees with leading British arts college, Goldsmiths, University of London

Govt will give subsidies to the 200 students offered places each year

By Sandra Davie, The Straits Times, 1 Mar 2012

ASPIRING Singaporean artists or fashion designers will have the chance to get a top-notch degree right on their doorstep with Lasalle College of the Arts teamed up with a leading British institution.

Their fees at the private institution will be subsidised by the Government, which yesterday reiterated its commitment to supporting arts education.

Fourteen courses will be on offer at Lasalle from this August, with Goldsmiths College in London carrying out quality checks to make sure they meet its standards. The degrees will be given out by Goldsmiths.

The curriculum will be designed by Lasalle lecturers, who have been running degree programmes validated by Britain's Open University since 2004.

The 200 students offered places every year will have their fees subsidised by the Government.

Tuition costs about $18,000 a year but Singaporeans will pay only $10,000. Permanent residents receive a smaller subsidy. They will pay $13,200 a year.

Similarly, students at another private arts institution, the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa), receive partial funding for taking up music degrees offered by London's Royal College of Music.

This course, which was launched last year, takes in 20 students annually.

Diploma programmes at both Lasalle and Nafa have been funded by the Government since 1999.

Speaking at the official signing ceremony between Lasalle and Goldsmiths, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the move reflects Singapore's commitment to providing alternative programmes and courses within the arts. This is so 'people with different talents and interests can find their own niche, their own avenue and their own success'.

He noted how Singapore has built up arts education over the years.

PRs buy fewer landed homes in 2011

Only 109 deals last year, a drop of 53.6%
By Esther Teo, The Straits Times, 29 Feb 2012

SALES of landed homes to permanent residents (PRs) plunged last year as tough new rules deterred them from entering that segment of the property market.

PRs bought 109 landed homes last year - down 53.6 per cent from the 235 transactions inked in 2010, DTZ Research said.

That took their share of the landed housing market transactions to 3.4 per cent, from 5.4 per cent the previous year. In 2006, their transactions formed 6.8 per cent of the private landed market.

It has already been hard for PRs to buy landed property. There are strict criteria under the Residential Property Act that do not apply when they buy condominiums.

They must apply to the Singapore Land Authority's Land Dealings (Approval) Unit, which considers factors such as the person's professional qualifications, work experience and investment in Singapore.

Foreign citizens who are not PRs can buy landed property only at Sentosa Cove. They can also buy townhouses within condo developments.

The Government further tightened rules for PRs last year. Law Minister K. Shanmugam said then that he expected the number of approved applications to plunge by more than half.

Budget 2012 debate: Day 3 - Round-Up Speech

Grow economy to forge inclusive society: DPM
Strategies to tackle inequality are in place, Tharman assures MPs

By Lydia Lim, The Straits Times, 2 Mar 2012

IN THE face of the clamour from MPs for more to be done to help the less well-off in Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday disclosed the extent to which this group now benefits from government help.

For every dollar that low-income Singaporeans paid in taxes in their lifetimes, they now get back $4 in the form of government aid.

Middle-income earners have also gained, the Finance Minister said, as he wrapped up Parliament's three-day debate on the Budget. They receive about $1.50 in benefits for every tax dollar they pay. If they own a car, that falls to around $0.80.

Addressing MPs who felt that this group was feeling keenly the impact of rising costs, he pointed out that middle-income families have seen their real incomes rise by 3.2 per cent a year in the last five years, on a per member basis. Their tax burden is also low.

They have fared better than their counterparts in other developed countries, whose incomes have either grown more slowly or shrunk. There are 'very few systems that provide this' level of fairness to those at the middle, Mr Tharman assured a packed House.

The plight of low- and middle-income Singaporeans was a key concern of 65 MPs who joined the debate on the Government's financial policy. Some expressed concerns that Singapore's income gap remains among the highest in the world.

Yesterday, Mr Tharman acknowledged their fears, but made clear there are strategies in place to tackle inequality. The approach cannot be one of pitching economic policy against social policy as both are 'closely bound up', he said.

The first and most fundamental way to tackle inequality is through economic growth and higher productivity that raise incomes 'up and down the ladder'.

'How we create an inclusive society also depends on how we grow our economy,' he said.

Mr Tharman also defended the policy to tighten foreign worker inflows, a move which several MPs lamented has hit small and medium-sized enterprises hard. These changes were made in a gradual, calibrated way, he said, adding that he was not applying 'cold turkey treatment'.

The move will push firms to raise productivity. That would pave the way for a sustainable rise in wages, he said. While firms would have to adapt, the Government would do all it could to help SMEs, 'holding them by the hand', he said.

On inequality, Mr Tharman said the Government will also do all it can to preserve social mobility, redistribute through fair taxes and benefits, and work with volunteer organisations to help the vulnerable.

The answer to inequality is also not a straightforward one of government spending more and more on social support.

The Workers' Party was thus wrong to want healthcare spending to rise from the current 1.6 per cent of GDP to the global average of 6.1 per cent of GDP, he said.

That level of spending would mean a spike in tax rates. If the increase were funded through the Goods and Services Tax, GST would have to go up from the current 7 per cent to 20 per cent. If it is through corporate income taxes, it would mean a rate hike at the top end from 17 per cent to 40 per cent, and if through personal income taxes, rates would go up from 20 per cent to 60 per cent.

Mr Tharman warned of the real limits to raising taxes at the top end, given competition from other cities. As it is, half of personal income taxes here are paid by foreigners, and the rest by well-educated, highly mobile Singaporeans.

So while WP chief Low Thia Khiang had lauded the Government for moving towards a 'First World safety net', Mr Tharman said he was 'intimidated' by the suggestion, as 'First World safety nets also meant First World taxes and debts'.

These realities must inform social policy making, he made clear, as schemes are good only 'if we can sustain them, not if we do them for a few years and then have to start withdrawing them or start raising taxes to pay for them'.

Instead, fighting inequality means spending judiciously, 'not for show but for effect'. What this means: Be 'prudent and targeted' in subsidies, and be focused on outcomes, not outlays.

On the Government's fiscal position, the Finance Minister had this piece of good news: Taxes will not go up in the next five years.

'I should have stated that quite definitively. For these five years, we are OK. That's why we are setting aside monies in trust funds, in endowment funds, to fund future spending whilst we still have the resources,' he said.

Budget 2012 debate: Day 2

Restructuring painful but critical, says Swee Say

Putting off change will lead to job losses, lower wages

By Aaron Low, The Straits Times, 1 Mar 2012

THERE is no avoiding the pain of economic change, and trying to put it off would lead to bigger problems down the road for companies and workers, said labour chief Lim Swee Say yesterday.

If Singapore did not push ahead with efforts to raise productivity, the country would lose its competitiveness, leading to lower wages and a loss of jobs.

'In this world, if we don't change, we will die,' said Mr Lim in an unscheduled speech on Day 2 of the Budget debate.

'If we don't have the means to transform the economy and lose our competitiveness, then we cannot keep our current investments.

'At the same time, we cannot attract more and better investment projects. Then, Singapore's economy will go into a downturn.'

Mr Lim, who is also a Cabinet minister, accepted that low-wage workers need the most help with the transition.

But he dismissed suggestions that the Government and unions had not done enough for them, reeling off a slew of programmes from special housing grants to the financial aid scheme ComCare.

'In 2010, we introduced the Inclusive Growth Programme,' he added. 'Today, more than 20,000 to 30,000 low-wage workers are under this programme, where they are going through job redesign and skills redevelopment.'

He also singled out small and medium-sized enterprises as needing special attention during the difficult transition. 'I think it's important for the tripartite partners to assure them that we will not neglect them,' he said.

'Their interest is also the interest of the labour movement, because they're the largest employers in Singapore as a group.'

Go beyond Band-Aid in social policy

Transforming Singapore into a more inclusive society needs more than just funding welfare relief

By Tan Chi Chiu & Jacqueline Loh, Published The Straits Times, 29 Feb 2012

IT IS heartening that this year's Budget targets some of those sorely in need of assistance, namely older workers, the disabled and low-income families, and has forgone the mass handouts of recent years that have also benefited middle- and high-income households.

Special transfers to the poor appear to have become permanent via the GST rebate vouchers and other schemes. Even though this is not the same as the welfare schemes of developed countries, it institutionalises welfare provisions, a significant departure from previous policies. It implies that the Government sees the economic divide between Singaporeans as structural and permanent. While it is right to address economic hardship, it is even more important to address the need for social inclusion, which is more about quality of life and social participation. In this respect, it is unclear if special transfers to the poor are enough.

For students from low-income households, the additional financial support as well as the extension of that support to a larger group of households is welcome. However what is still inadequately addressed is the inclusivity of Singapore's educational system. Without fully investigating this contentious subject, financial support may be only a Band-Aid approach to a system that may ultimately perpetuate rather than ameliorate existing inequalities.

It is worth exploring if Singapore's current education system features some of the key characteristics of low mobility systems found elsewhere, including early streaming and increasing differentiation of educational options, with more and better options for those who can afford to pay more. A recent study on social mobility by the Ministry of Finance found relatively high mobility - but it looked at children born between 1969 and 1978, a generation for whom mobility was generally perceived to be high.